Authority” has several meanings, and applications according to the dictionary definition.

“First, authority is the freedom to decide or a right to act without hindrance. All such authority begins with God, for there is no authority except from God ( Rom 13:1 ). God has the right to mold the clay as he wishes ( Rom 9:21 ) and to set times and dates ( Acts 1:7 ).”

In this article, since authority is a big subject, let’s look at Jesus’ authority and the way it impacts us as His followers.

Jesus said and did things that baffled and angered His religious opponents.

One of the big issues the Pharisees had with Jesus was authority. In their culture and religion, authority was everything. To them, Moses was the great authority. Whatever they believed and taught had to be in line with what Moses wrote (even if they failed to obey in the spirit of Moses). They constantly referred to Moses in their clashes with Jesus.

Matthew 21:23 NIV
[23] “Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

The first five books of the Bible, the Torah, written by Moses, form the foundation of the Jewish faith. Every child learned the Torah from its earliest days. The Torah was the textbook of early childhood education. So, every Jew was thoroughly immersed in the teachings of Moses.

Jesus’ teaching shocked the Jewish leaders, not because He overturned the Torah but because He exposed its deeper meaning in both its revelation of God’s holiness and His mercy.

Their big question was, “Who gave you the authority to do this?” Jesus was generally recognised as a rabbi with “sh’mikah” (authority to interpret the Torah, and to create His own “yoke”, His way of doing life according to His interpretation). There were two other rabbis with “sh’mikah” at this time in Israel, Shammai and Hillel, Shammai a stricter interpreter of the Torah and Hillel more liberal.

The Pharisees often tested Jesus by trying to discover which rabbi’s teaching He supported.

Matthew 19:3-8 NIV
[3] “Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” [4] “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ [5] and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? [6] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” [7] “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” [8] Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”

Jesus refused to be drawn into their debate. His authority to interpret and teach the Torah was superior to any rabbi, even if they had “sh’mikah”. Instead, He took His opponents back to the beginning, where God’s Word exposed the root of His intention.

“But it was not this way from the beginning.”

Matthew 7:28-29 NIV
[28] “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, [29] because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

This way of teaching the Torah angered the religious leaders since Jesus` interpretation exposed a side of God’s nature they didn’t like…His mercy and compassion.

The Pharisees once tested Him by setting a trap. They brought a woman caught in adultery (where was the guilty man… possibly one of their own?) to Him for His judgment, knowing that He leant towards mercy in the face of the Torah’s instruction to stone her.

Jesus’ action, by writing (probably their names) in the dust, revealed both His judgment on them and that He knew both the Scriptures and their names.

Jeremiah 17:13 NIV
[13]”Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.”

They slunk away, guilty, leaving Jesus, without witnesses, to forgive and free the woman.

So, what was this conflict over authority all about?

First, Jesus insisted and acknowledged, on numerous occasions, that His authority came from God and was given to Him by God.

John 3:34-35 NIV
[34] “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. [35] The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.”

He established His authority by His words and actions on different occasions.

For example, He proved His authority to forgive sins by healing a paralysed man. Who, but God alone has the authority to forgive sin?

Matthew 9:2-7 NIV
[2] “Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” [3] At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” [4] Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? [5] Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? [6] But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” [7] Then the man got up and went home.”

Jesus demonstrated His authority over nature to His disciples by calming a violent storm and walking on water.

Mark 4:36-41 NIV
[36]”Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. [37] A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. [38] Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” [39] He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. [40] He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” [41] They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Even disease and powerful demonic spirit obeyed His word.

Mark 1:32-34 NIV
[32] “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. [33] The whole town gathered at the door, [34] and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.”

Jesus showed His authority over Satan’s most powerful weapon…death.

John 11:41-44 NIV
[41]”So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” [43] When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” [44] The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

First, then, Jesus’ authority on earth came from God. God is the source of all authority. He alone has the right to delegate His authority to whom He chooses.

Since no one, not even the Jewish leaders, though they refused to believe, could deny Jesus’ authority, we must ask, next, “How did Jesus exercise His authority?”

From Scripture, the answer is clear. Jesus’ authority lay in His spoken word. Probably the person who showed the clearest understanding of Jesus’ authority was the Roman officer…

Matthew 8:5-9 NIV
[5] “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. [6] “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” [7] Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” [8] The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But JUST SAY THE WORD, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Jesus Himself explained to His opponents that His authority to judge lay in His word.

John 12:47-50 NIV
[47] “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. [48] There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. [49] For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. [50] I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

The Apostle John acknowledged Jesus’ powerful role on earth, the Word of God.

John 1:1 NIV
[1] “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

God’s eternal Word, the one through whom God speaks on earth, became human, the spoken Word of God clothed in a human body, not only to speak God’s Word but to BE God’s Word to the whole world.

The implications for the world and the church are huge!

God has spoken His final Word through Jesus. He has nothing more to say!

Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV
[1] “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, [2] but in these last days HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. [3] The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things BY HIS POWERFUL WORD . After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

God has invested all authority in Jesus. To Him has been given the power to direct all the affairs on earth…for the sake of His church.

Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT
[22]” God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. [23] And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”

Jesus authorised His disciples to go in His name with His message to all the nations on earth.

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
[18] Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God the Father authorised Jesus, the Son, to wrap up history by His Word.

Revelation 19:11-16 NLT
[11] “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. [12] His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. [13] He wore a robe dipped in blood, and HIS TITLE WAS THE WORD OF GOD . [14] The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. [15] FROM HIS MOUTH CAME A SHARP SWORD TO STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS . He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. [16] On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.”

The implications for those who believe in Him are also huge.

Obedience to Jesus’ teachings has the power to set us free from everything that keeps us in bondage, both the lies we believe and our sinful ways. Embracing, knowing, believing and obeying Jesus’ yoke guarantees His rest from every burden we carry.

Matthew 11:28 NLT
[28] “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

John 8:31-32 NLT
[31] Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. [32] And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Since all authority has been given to Jesus, and He exercises His authority by His spoken word, if we do not obey His word, first, we do not believe Him…

Luke 6:46 NLT
[46] “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

…and second we do not love Him.

John 14:21 NLT
[21] “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

The outcome for all who reject His authority and refuse to obey His Word is….

Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. [22] On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ [23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ “

1 Corinthians 16:22 NLT
[22] “If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed…”

We must be sure that loving and obeying Jesus is the e centre and source of our lives if we want to spend eternity with Him.